Catering and retreat chef Terms and Conditions
Updated June 2026
Please read these Terms and Conditions ("Terms", "Terms and Conditions") carefully before using the www.thefoodwitch.com catering, retreat chef or private chef services (the “Service”) offered by Salima Dhalla ("us", "we", or "our", “Sal Dhalla”, “The Food Witch”).
Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned on your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms. These Terms apply to all users and others who access or use the Service. By accessing or using the Service you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms then you may not access the Service.
Booking
All event bookings must be confirmed in writing by the Client. A deposit is required to secure your booking (see below). All bookings are subject to minimum order requirements as stipulated on menus. By confirming your booking and paying the deposit you are deemed to have read, accepted and understood these terms and conditions.
Deposit and Payment: Events / Catering
A deposit of 50% of the total estimated event cost (or full payment for bookings under £500) is required to secure your event. The deposit must be received upon booking (for bookings made less than 8 weeks in advance), or no later than 8 weeks prior to the event (for bookings made more than 8 weeks in advance).
Deposits may be partially or fully retained if the event is cancelled (see cancellation details below). The deposit will be deducted from the total event costs which will be issued to the Client no later than 2 weeks before the event. Any additional staff costs and breakages will be accounted for and invoiced no more than 5 working days after the event. An additional deposit may be required for any equipment / hire organised by us from third parties, this may include a breakages deposit which would be refundable after the event less any breakages. Please note that a decrease in numbers after deposit payment will only be accepted at our discretion, and will involve a per person price increase if the reduction is material. A minimum of 2 weeks notice is required for changes to guest numbers so that the final invoice as paid corresponds to the final agreed guest numbers. Changes after this point are at our discretion. Payment methods available include bank transfer or card payment.
Deposit and Payment: Retreats and Resident Chef Bookings
A deposit of 50% of the total costs will be required upon booking or at least 8 weeks prior to your retreat/event and may be partially or fully retained if it is cancelled. Please note that a decrease in numbers after deposit payment will only be accepted at our discretion, and will involve a per person price increase if the reduction is material. A minimum of 2 weeks notice is required for changes to guest numbers so that the final invoice as paid corresponds to the final agreed guest numbers. Changes after this point are at our discretion. The deposit will be deducted from the total event costs which will be issued to the Client no later than 2 weeks before the event. Any additional staff costs and breakages will be accounted for and invoiced no more than 5 working days after the event. An additional deposit may be required for any equipment / hire organised by us from third parties, this may include a breakages deposit which would be refundable after the event less any breakages - we will let you know if this is the case and arrange to take the deposit as necessary. Payment methods available include bank transfer or card payment.
Cancellation Charges
The Client understands that upon payment of deposit to secure the booking, time and resources will be committed by us to deliver the event prior to the date itself. Cancellation would also result in lost income and lost business opportunities that are difficult to precisely quantify. Therefore the cancellation limitations set out in this policy will apply.
In the unfortunate event of an event or retreat booking having to be cancelled, confirmation in writing will be required from the Client via email to sal@thefoodwitch.com. The following charges will be incurred:
Cancellation Charges: Events / Catering Bookings
Cancellation notice received more than 28 days prior to the event – full refund of any deposit paid, less any non-refundable costs already incurred (e.g. deposits paid to suppliers, venue hire, or travel booked). We will itemise these in the event of cancellation.
Cancellation notice received 14-28 days prior to the event – 25% of the total event cost
Cancellation notice received 7-14 days prior to the event – 50% of the total event cost
Cancellation received less than 7 days prior to the event – 100% of the total event cost
Cancellation Charges: Retreats & Resident Chef Bookings
Cancellation notice received more than 8 weeks prior to the event – full refund of any deposit paid, less any non-refundable costs already incurred (e.g. deposits paid to suppliers, venue hire, or travel booked). We will itemise these in the event of cancellation.
Cancellation notice received 5-8 weeks prior to the event – 25% of the total event cost
Cancellation notice received 2-5 weeks prior to the event – 50% of the total event cost
Cancellation received less than 2 weeks prior to the event – 100% of the total event cost
In all cases, the total event cost will be based on the total quoted price including staff and hire estimates. Should guest numbers be unconfirmed at the time of cancellation the total event cost will be based on the originally quoted or most recently estimated guest numbers. Any additional costs incurred by us in preparation of the event up until the time of cancellation will be charged to the Client if not covered by the deposit. This is to cover any losses caused to us for administration costs, travel, supplies etc. and will be discussed and itemised fully in the event of cancellation. As cancellation insurance is not available to a catering supplier, the Client is advised to arrange such insurance to recover their losses.
The above applies in all circumstances where you elect to cancel for any reason. If we cancel for any reason, you will be given a full refund of any monies paid.
If you want to reschedule your event, please let us know as soon as possible and we will do our best to find a new date that is suitable. Rescheduling requests made more than 28 days (for catering) or 8 weeks (for retreats & residencies) prior to the event will not incur a cancellation fee, and your deposit will be transferred to the new date. Rescheduling requests made within the cancellation timeframes above will be treated as a cancellation, and the relevant charges will apply.
Late Payments
If a deposit payment is not received by the due date, your booking is not confirmed and the dates are not secured. We advise paying your deposit as far ahead as possible to avoid disappointment when it comes to availability.
Final balance payments will accrue late payment fees and statutory interest charges if overdue as defined in relevant legislation.
Dietary Requirements and Allergies
Please inform us of any known allergies or dietary requirements when selecting your menu. We will endeavour to provide a suitable menu for any guests with dietary requirements or mild allergies and intolerances (e.g. vegan, vegetarian, gluten/nut/egg/dairy free). We cannot however accept responsibility for any guests unless advised well in advance (no less than 4 weeks prior to the event or upon booking - our ability to cater for dietary needs after this period will be at our discretion) and extremely complex needs or allergies cannot be met when catering for large group events and retreats. Furthermore, due to cross-contamination risks when cooking for large groups and sourcing ingredients, we cannot cater for severe or anaphylactic allergies as we cannot guarantee any food is 100% allergen free. Please consider this and let your guests know so that you and they can make an informed decision about the event and any dietary needs. Please get in touch to discuss if you have further questions or specific needs that require bespoke attention.
Delivery, Display and Storage
The below applies to drop-off services and catering setups without a chef on site for the duration of the event:
a) We accept full responsibility for food safety up to the point of delivery.
b) Due to the presence of fresh products delivery must be received by a person rather than left on a doorstep or safe place.
c) The Client agrees to follow all provided written storage, heating, and serving instructions. Separate instructions may be provided for different food types.
d) Once delivery is made or service handed over, the Client assumes responsibility for safe handling, storage, and serving. We accept no liability for any issues arising from:
Failure to follow our instructions
Food being left out of temperature control beyond specified time limits (2 hours for hot food, 4 hours for cold/ambient food)
Inadequate refrigeration or storage after delivery
Reheating food more than once or re-displaying after refrigeration
e) This clause does not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence prior to delivery or handover.
For catering and retreats/residencies with a chef on site:
a) The Client is responsible for ensuring that the venue provides a safe, clean, and hygienic working environment for our team. This includes access to clean water, adequate hand-washing facilities, and a food preparation and service area that is free from hazards and suitable for the purposes of the event.
b) Any food remaining after service is left at the client’s request. Once service is complete and food has been handed over to the client, the Client assumes responsibility for safe storage and handling, as set out in point d) above. We cannot accept any responsibility for the safety, quality, or consumption of food after the service period has ended.
Client’s Food and Drinks
We accept no liability for any food or drinks supplied to the Client by another caterer (or food and drink products supplied or made by the Client themselves) in addition to those arranged by us.
Client’s use of Our Property and Client’s Personal Property or Gifts
The Client agrees to pay for any loss or damage to any equipment, crockery, cutlery or glassware supplied by us for the event, including any issues caused by the Client guests. The use of candles by the Client for centre pieces or decoration where we have supplied table linen is strictly prohibited. Any damage to our property, including but not limited to linen, crockery, or equipment, will be charged to the Client.
Liability
We accept no liability under any claim whatsoever (be it by negligence or otherwise) arising from any loss over the figure of our existing Public Liability Limit of Indemnity. Note that this figure, which may change from time to time, is available upon request.
Force Majeure
We shall incur no liability to the Client if performance of the contract is prevented or hindered by any case whatsoever beyond our control and in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, by act of fire, flood, subsidence, sabotage, accident, strike, pandemic or lock out and shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting therefrom suffered by the Client.
Future Changes to Terms and Conditions
We reserve the right to change our Terms and Conditions when necessary due to the continual evolving nature of our business. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are up to date with our Terms and Conditions. We will notify you of any material changes directly where the change affects your booking. The current version is always available on our website or upon request.